Former Nets Star Jayson Williams Gets Another Year in Jail

By

Chris Herring

Aug 20, 2010 6:12 pm ET

Updated at 11pm ET.

Former New Jersey Nets star Jayson Williams pleaded guilty Friday to driving drunk during an car wreck in New York City earlier this year, and a judge sentenced the already-incarcerated athlete to an additional year in jail time.

The charge stemmed from an early morning incident on Jan. 5, when Williams crashed his Merecedes Benz SUV into a tree near East 20th St. and Avenue C, after exiting the FDR Drive. The plea and sentencing were the latest setbacks for Williams, who has struggled off the basketball court as much as he once prospered on it.

Already serving time for his role in a fatal shooting in 2002, the former NBA All-Star walked into court in cuffs, wearing a short-sleeved tan prison jumpsuit. After Judge Rita Mella told him that she planned to give the maximum sentence for the misdemeanor — one year in jail — if he pled guilty to the drunk-driving charge, Williams still chose to admit guilt rather than take the matter before a jury.

“[The one-year sentence] seems excessive, but it’s a small price to pay if it helps to deter drunk-driving,” he said in Manhattan Criminal Court. “I’ll be the poster child for that if it’s going to save lives.” He then apologized to the court, his friends, and family, including his ill mother, who was present. “It will never happen again,” he said.